{{Short description|Alsatian wine producer}} thumb|Hugel & Fils in central Riquewihr '''Jean "Johnny" Frederic Hugel''' ( September 28, 1924 - June 9, 2009) was an Alsatian wine producer, described by wine expert Tom Stevenson as ''"the single most important person in the development of Alsace wine industry throughout the 20th century."''<ref name="Decanter">D. Furer ''"[http://www.decanter.com/news/284290.html?aff=rss 'Johnny' Hugel dies] {{webarchive|url=https://www.webcitation.org/5hQotnKTu?url=http://www.decanter.com/news/284290.html?aff=rss |date=2009-06-10 }}"'' Decanter, June 10th 2009</ref>
==Biography== Born in the village of Riquewihr, Jean Hugel began studying winemaking after World War II, attending the University of Bordeaux and University of Montpellier from the later of which he earned a master's degree in Agronomy. In 1948 he returned to the family estate in Alsace, Hugel & Fils, where he shared in management operations with his brothers André and Georges. In 1997, Hugel scaled back on his activities in the day-to-day management of the estate as his nephews took on more prominent role.<ref name="Decanter"/> He died of cancer in 2009.<ref name="Asimov">Eric Asimov ''"[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/world/europe/12hugel.html?_r=1&ref=dining Jean Hugel, Alsace Winemaker, Dies at 84]"'' New York Times, June 11th 2009</ref>
==Influence on Alsatian wine industry== thumb|Two ''Hommage a Jean Hugel'' wines, a range which was introduced by Hugel & Fils in connection with Jean Hugel's 50th consecutive vintage in the family business. Jean Hugel was very active in the drafting of the ''Appellation d'origine contrôlée'' guidelines for the Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru AOCs. As founder and president of the Alsace Grand Cru commission, Hugel was a major influence in defining the boundaries the Alsace Grand Cru vineyards. Hugel also developed the guidelines for the late harvest dessert wines Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles.<ref name="Hugel">Hugel & Fils ''"[http://www.hugel.com/pdf/JHF_Biography.pdf Jean Hugel Biography]"'' Accessed: June 10th, 2009</ref> When these laws were officially recognized in 1984 they were among the strictest AOC requirements in the French wine industry.<ref name="Decanter"/>
==Awards and honors== Over his more than 60 years in the Alsatian wine industry, Jean Hugel won numerous awards and honors. These include:<ref name="Hugel"/>
*Membership of the Académie du Vin de France *Winner of the Catherine de Medici Prize for services to Oenology *Grand-Maître of the Confrérie Saint-Étienne d'Alsace *President of the International Wine & Spirit Competition *Awarded the Mérite Agricole for services to and successful promotion French wines *Awarded the Ordre du Mérite by the French Government for service to the French People
==See also== *List of wine personalities
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/5626333/Jean-Johnny-Hugel.html Jean Hugel] - Daily Telegraph obituary *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090503155839/http://www.hugel.com/en/ Official website] Hugel & Fils *[http://www.hugel.com/pdf/JHF_interview_Feb_2005.pdf 2005 Interview with Jean Hugel] by Master of Wine Nick Clarke
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hugel, Jean}} Category:1924 births Category:2009 deaths Category:People from Haut-Rhin Category:Wine merchants Category:French winemakers Category:Alsace wine